NorDevCon 2015: Agile Sessions Part 1‏

Ahead of this year's forthcoming event check out NorDevCon 2015 Agile Sessions Part 1.

As well as a low down on the conference’s Agile aspect and a sneak preview of our seasoned speakers, the NorDevCon team would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Building Learning Into Team Life

Co-author of “Agile Coaching”, Rachel Davies has worked in software development since the likes of Madonna burst onto the scene in the late 80’s. She is interested in finding ways to help teams work more effectively to achieve their goals and specializes in coaching teams in agile approaches to software development, such as XP and Kanban. Rachel currently works as a agile coach at Unruly in London.

Rachel explores how when we make time and space for learning within teams, the products and services we build can benefit from new ideas and innovative solutions. Team members also tend to find work more satisfying and enjoyable, which helps company recruitment and staff retention. Many managers and coaches/scrum masters struggle when it comes to practical ways to encourage people to keep learning at work. It can help to build in time for learning, exploration and discovery into team/organization process but how can you get started? Rachel address the more challenging issues of how to keep learning initiatives going without taking on the admin yourself?

What Is This Agile?

If, like Allan Kelly, you are sick of your technical team answering every question with “Agile” then this presentation could be your antidote.
During his career, Allan has held just about every job in the software world, from system admin to development manager by way of programmer and product manager.  Today he works helping teams adopt and deepen Agile practices, advising companies of development generally and writing far too much.  He specialises in working with software product companies and aligning products and processes with company strategy.

Serial author of Agile books, Allan will explain why every question seems to be answered with “Agile” but pinning “Agile” seems to be impossible. We’ll take a look at what Agile can do for a business and why its important. And we’ll explain why the only flavour of Agile which is right for your business is the one you create yourself.

This talk isn’t for techies, it’s for people who employ and manage techies, who need to get the best from techies, who deliver a product or service which wouldn’t exist without software technology.

This is Agile?

Letitia Fearon poses the question ‘How many times have you been told that you will be working on an Agile project but when you start this doesn’t seem to be the case?’ and uses this session to take a look at what Agile really is, why you would want to run a project using it and the pros and cons of doing so.

Now a Business Analyst based in London, Letitia started out working in the pharmaceutical industry, shadowing scientists, observing both the time spent in the labs and the analysis phase and then working with them to optimise processes, at times using an IT solution and at others a change in their practice. These improvements always focused on reducing the time required, without impacting the quality of the output. This led Letitia into the world of consultancy where she’s since gone on to helps many companies work effectively with Agile techniques, using Scrum, Lean or Kanban.

Conference Dinner and Kurasie Wine Reception

Make the most of your time at NorDevCon and join us for a wine reception (free), also at The King’s Centre, generously sponsored by Kurasie. Discuss what you’ve learnt, raise any questions or introduce yourself to other delegates and share insights.

If you’re unable to attend the conference then you’re still very welcome to attend the drinks reception and mingle with conference delegates, speakers, organisers, Norfolk’s tech community and beyond.

The drinks reception will be followed by the conference dinner (£35 + fees for 3 courses and 2 glasses of wine) where you’ll have the chance to sit down and dine with all your favourite speakers in turn and pick the minds of those that are most relevant to you and your business. Places must be booked in advance and, like the drinks reception, invitations extend to those unable to attend the full conference as they also provide invaluable stand-alone networking opportunities.

View the menu here.

Pre-conference special & dinner

You can now RSVP for the pre-conference special and dinner on the evening of Thursday 26th of February(the evening before the conference). If you're able to make it, please do come along to both. The details are below.

Everyone is welcome at both events and you don't need to attend the conference to attend the pre-conference events.

Pre-conference Special with Allan Kelly and Kevlin Henney

Thursday, 26th February 2015 @ 5pm
The Kings Centre, Norwich

The Rule of Three - Kevin Henney

The three-act play, the given–when–then BDD triptych, the three steps of the Feynman problem solving algorithm... a surprising number of things appear to come in threes. This talk walks through — and has some fun with — a number of triples that affect and are found in software development.

Every business is a software business - Allan Kelly

RSVP here.

Pre-conference Dinner at All Bar One

Thursday, 26th February 2015 @ 7.30pm
All Bar One, Norwich

This year the pre-conference dinner will be at All Bar One (a short walk from the Kings Centre) at 7.30pm. All are welcome and the fixed price menu is here:

View the menu.

When you RSVP you'll need to pay £11 for the meal and then for your drinks on the night. Please specify a starter, main meal and dessert when you RSVP.

RSVP here.

Student & Unemployed Discounts

If you’re a student or are unemployed you can attend NorDevCon for just £25 + fees. If you purchase a discounted ticket you will be required to prove your status when you register on the morning of the conference.

Click here for student tickets and here for unemployed tickets.